Has anybody worked in schools/universities ( private or public) in Eastern Turkey? Any recommendations/warnings? How do I go about finding email addresses? What are the conditions like ( pay, contracts, students)? I have a degree, the TEFL cert, exp at all levels teaching everything from business to young kids. What about giving private classes? Ideally Id like to start in Sept this year. Thanks.

Well there definitely are schools in eastern Turkey, but I'm not familiar with any of them, unfortunately. Just curious as to why you want to go there, and, specifically which cities you're interested in. I would imagine that the pay is lower than the big three cities, but that the cost of living is lower, as well.

Hi there! Thanks for your reply. I was there recently and found the place fascinating. I really liked Van and Diyarbakir and was really impressed by the hospitality that I received ( apart from attention from the tourist guys but that was actually minimal) . Im open to all options. Im currently in Paris and cant wait to leave. Three weeks and counting................... Where are you?

I've been in Istanbul for two years now, having been in Ankara for nearly eight. The east is fascinating, but I think the closed and stricter society there would get old very fast. I can always go there for my culture "fix" and then come back to a place where I'm more comfortable. Just my opinion.

Youre probably right especially as practically speaking I cant actually find any addresses for schools!!!!!!! I have a list of Turkish unis that Im working my way through and am looking at Ankara because at least its more centrally placed for travelling a bit. Is it actually worth emailing them all or would phoning be better? Ill be in Turkey in less than 3 wks so maybe I should go round knocking on doors. What do you think? Oh whats a decent wage in Ankara these days? Thanks for your help and comments.

I would definitely email ahead and tell them you can come for an interview as long as you are going. I want to remind you, however, that you will need to return to your home country to get a work visa if you accept a job. I'm not sure what the going rate is for universities -- depends on your experience and education level. Look for ones which give housing, insurance, relocation expenses, etc. Salaries can be so different from school to school, but you should get more than $1000 as a minimum.

Do they actually answer emails?
Im sending a friend to do some ground work for me in the East. When I was in Van I was told of a job at a local private school but it was $200/month which would mean absolutely no money for travel etc. Im very determined though and this is rapidly becoming more of a challenge than just a simple job hunt..... Im now a girl on a mission!
Another Q: once I actually hunt down this elusive job whats the situation on giving private classes ( English and French )?
Thanks for reminding me about the work visa situation

dear Theresa I saw a job advertised today on Dave's job board at some place in Dyarbakir. It claims to pay between 1000 and 1500 dollars. i've never heard of the place but maybe it is worth investigating

Hi it's me
Teresa I think you will find a job out east without too much trouble the advertised on Dave's is a good place to start ,the good news is that there won't be too much competion ,not many people favour that part of the country . The bad news is that private lessons are a good way to meet people but there's no money in it when I first came here I couldn't make any cash from it I just got food instead ,at least I didn't go hungry . A better way would be start in the West first and get a little more local knowledge and build up some contacts in the east and after a year or two switch to a uni theres one in Cukrova for example that is allegged to have the best campus in Turkey ,some of the bigger ones have thousands of students mostly impovrished

Thanks everyone for all your &#305;nput. Im out east at the moment and every t&#305;me I f&#305;nd a school the locals keep tell&#305;ng me the same story : that &#305; wont get pa&#305;d and that teachers regularly do a runner. Perhaps I was reach&#305;ng for the moon when I thought that g&#305;ven my degree, Tefl cert and exper&#305;ence I would have the r&#305;ght to payment for my serv&#305;ces. Well you certa&#305;nly l&#305;ve and learn and perhaps that nanny job for the maf&#305;a &#305;n Moscow &#305;s an opt&#305;on after all!!!!!!!!!!! Or accept that Istanbul/ Ankara &#305;s the place to start. If anybody has any &#305;deas whatsoever please please tell me.
From a very glum Theresa

So there are jobs here after BUT they are not f&#305;nanc&#305;ally v&#305;able unless &#305;ts your second &#305;ncome : approx 600 USD &#305;f you are lucky w&#305;thout accommodat&#305;on . Here &#305;n D&#305;yarbak&#305;r forget Academy although they do appear to be the h&#305;ghest payers. If you dont have to w&#305;t months to get pa&#305;d that &#305;s ( wh&#305;ch only be goss&#305;p ). The owner has a ser&#305;ous ego problem ( I had an &#305;nterv&#305;ew ) and &#305;s even d&#305;sl&#305;ked by the locals wh&#305;ch &#305;s not say&#305;ng much. At Oxford Engl&#305;sh they are really funny and dynam&#305;c but thats 600 USD. Theres a lot of demand for pr&#305;vate classes as well but &#305;ts &#305;mposs&#305;ble to work round here w&#305;thout a work perm&#305;t and even w&#305;th one youll have to undergo a secur&#305;ty check and maybe even be followed by the secret serv&#305;ces just &#305;n case you a PKK sympath&#305;ser or a m&#305;ss&#305;onary. &#304;m really not exagerrating. What else ? Of course forget stay&#305;ng here &#305;f youre a s&#305;ngle female : &#305;ts just not worth the hassle unless you actually enjoy be&#305;ng leeched every 10 secs. Even &#305;f you make an effort and dress extremely modestly &#305;t wont really help as they have all watched too much TV and have a very f&#305;xed &#305;dea about good g&#305;rls ( locals) and bad g&#305;rls ( Turk&#305;sh, European,Amer&#305;can anyone who &#305;snt from here &#305;n fact). Theres also a lot of rac&#305;sm /resentment as well. Lucky that &#304;m just European not Amer&#305;can g&#305;ven the s&#305;tuat&#305;on &#305;n Iraq. Ive even used the fact that my Mums from from N Ireland to get sympathy and 5 m&#305;ns peace...... To be honest &#304; really wouldnt bother com&#305;ng here unless you are a member of the PKK or a m&#305;ss&#305;onary or just pla&#305;n masoch&#305;st&#305;c. Please rem&#305;nd me to g&#305;ve up be&#305;ng so stubborn and just listen to people next t&#305;me!!!!!

Dear Gelin
Thanks for all the moral support and for working your way through all the Turkish i s ! ( This keyboard appears to have no logical system for punctuation ) In fact my time wasnt entirely wasted in Diyarbakir as I met someone who knew someone who works for Longman and has sent my email out to schools in Ankara. It really is a question of who you know. Ive already had one reply from a k12 Primary school in Ankara. Its not actually a scary prospect as Ive just spent the last 4 years working as a governess. The secrets out now and NO there was no uniform involved.........

Hi Teresa
Sorry to hear things didn't pan out for you in the East ,as I said on a previous post spending some time inm the west and making a few contacts make take longer but you will be better prepared for the less well off side of Turkey it is a major culture shock even for people who are from this country. Eastern Turkey is so differnt from the rest of the country .I see you are trying Ankara,ok,have you considered Izmir ?Ican give you a contact website if you want to try.

Dear Richard
Thank you for offer - Id gladly accept any help. The school in Ankara hasnt got back to me....... Im currently in Van which believe it or not is actually much easier than Diyarbakir. Perhaps because its cooler and also much friendlier as its smaller.
Best wishes
PS theres work here but no money as usual but then we all knew that. One things for sure the students here are really motivated and would be a dream to teach